Tongueless buckle.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. FREES, OF WEST MILTON, OHIO.

TONGUELESS BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,947, dated March 3, 1903.

Application filed December 1I, 1902- Serial No. 134,733. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. FREEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Milton, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongueless Buckles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tongueless buckles, the features of which will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object f my invention is to so join straps of leather together that the parts may 'be securely united without perforating the leather and engaging the same with tongues, as in the ordinary harness-buckle. The object is accomplished by the mechanism illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of the buckle with the leather straps attached. Fig. 2 is a plan of the outer plate or frame. Fig. 3 is a plan of the inner frame. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 3.

Like letters and figures designate like parts' in the several views.

The device comprises two distinct frames. The outer or top plate A has the raised parts l and 2 at the opposite ends, the ribs 3, 4, 8, and 5 arranged transversely, uniting the sides of the frame, and thereby providing three spaces.

The frame orI plate B comprises the ends 6 7, uniting the sides, and the deep rib 10, arranged transversely and forming two spaces. This central rib extends downward beneath the outer frame and is situated in use directly beneath the rib 8 of the outer frame. This rib lO may be located to one side, as shown in Fig. 3, or/it may have a nearly central position in the frame adapted to rcceive a single or double thickness of leather.

In use the frame B is set in the frame A. The strap C is put around the end 6 of the former frame and around the rib 3 of the latter frame and then stitched,as usual. This strap,

Ythus secured, forms the only permanent union of the two frames. To this strap is attached the usual leather loop 9. The free strap D in uniting it to the other is passed under the raised part 2, through the space between ribs 5 8, under rib l0 of the inner frame, over the rib Il, and beneath the raised part l at the end. The contact of the several surfaces with the deep central bend or curve makes the holding secure. To release the strap, push the end back until the part is free under the central rib, then raise the free end of the inner.frame,'and the release is more easily effected than if the parts were immovable.

The part 8'of the outerframe serves to reinforce the central rib of the inner frame. i Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a tonguele'ss buckle the combination of the outer frame provided with raised ends and transverse ribs, and the inner frame with vdeep "rib held on said outer frame and joined fornse, substantially as set forth.

. 2. In a tongueles's buckle the combination of the outer frame provided with raised ends and transverse ribs, the inner frame with its central deep rib, and the attached strap to secure their union, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'JAMES H. FREES.

i Witnesses:

B. PICKERING, CHARLES W. DAY. 

